Trolley Display Building, 2005
(John Smatlak photo)
Last regular trip on the West Chester Line at Broomall,
1954
(David H. Cope photo)
|
|
|
|
Trolley Display Building, 2005 |
Last regular trip on the West Chester Line at Broomall,
1954 |
| Car Number | 24 | Car Builder | St. Louis Car Company |
| Year Built | 1949 | Year Acquired | 1983 |
| Type | DE streamlined suburban car | Seats | 58 |
| Length | 50' 5" | Width | 9'0" |
| Height | 10'0" | Weight | 49,000 lbs (22 tons) |
| Max Speed | 55 mph | Status | Stored operable, Trolley Display Building |
When the Red Arrow Lines (Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company) needed additional modern equipment to handle the burgeoning postwar population growth in Philadelphia's western suburbs, only one streetcar builder remained in the United States - the St. Louis Car Company.
The fourteen cars they supplied were quite advanced for the day, featuring streamlines bodies like the PCC cars had, and riding on wheelsets designed for high-speed operation. Little wonder, then, that car 24 (and sister 14, beautifully restored to its 1949 appearance and in service at the Museum) remained in regular operation until new cars were purchased in 1982.
Car 24 is the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum's newest streetcar (only our 1960 subway car is more recent). Someday, 24's replacement may sit next to it in a museum display!
Click on the thumbnails below for larger photos (will open in new window):
|
|
 |
|
|
| Approaching 69th Street Terminal under
SEPTA. (Miller Library, PTM) |
Last Fan Trip of the West Chester Line,
1954. (Miller Library, PTM) |
Westbound at Kirk's to West Chester,
about 1950. (David H. Cope photo) |
Operator's position, 2005 (Timothy P. Jones photo) |
Last updated October 17, 2005
All content copyright © 1996-2005, Pennsylvania Trolley
Museum. All rights reserved.
